Zöe Franklin MP: written questions 2026
158 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Inheritance Tax and Stamp Duty Land TaxTreasuryTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29690More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of inheritance tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax rules on families seeking to establish long-term multigenerational households; and whether he has considered introducing
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of area-based agricultural support payments on poultry farmers and other farmers whose businesses require relatively small areas of
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: BatteriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of increasing the use of rechargeable batteries in automated external defibrillators; and what consideration he has given to the co
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVisas: ApplicationsHome OfficeTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the lack of published service level standards for the processing of visa and indefinite leave to remain applications on applicants.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordCriminal Proceedings: Administrative DelaysAttorney General's OfficeTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29660More
Question: To ask the Attorney General, what redress is available to victims where repeated administrative errors by the Crown Prosecution Service result in a criminal trial being postponed on multiple occasions; and what assessment she has made of the potential imp
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordPhysician Assistants: EmploymentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of employment prospects of newly qualified Physician Associates; and what steps she is taking to ensure that graduates are able to secure appropriate em
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Autism and Learning DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Timms Review will consider evidence from people with autism, learning disabilities and their families regarding their experiences when applying for Personal Independence Payment.
Answer: The Review's steering group recognise no single method of engagement and evidence-gathering will allow them to hear every voice. That is why the group has adopted a mix of approaches combining lived experience, expert insight, existing research, new quant...
Answered 15 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Autism and Learning DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration is being given to introducing specialist assessor training on autism and learning disabilities to ensure that PIP assessments accurately capture the impact of such conditions on daily
Answer: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are functional assessments designed to consider how a person’s health conditions or impairments affect their ability to carry out daily living and mobility activities. They do not require health professional...
Answered 11 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Autism and Learning DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the outcomes of PIP claims made by people with autism and learning disabilities compared with other disability groups.
Answer: Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment outcomes by primary condition can be found on Stat Xplore. PIP claimants can have more than one condition and this data only indicates the primary condition as determined during the PIP assessm...
Answered 11 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Autism and Learning DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking through the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to assess whether the current PIP assessment process adequately reflects the needs and circumstances o
Answer: The Timms Review seeks to ensure that PIP is fair and fit for the future. The Review's terms of reference set out a broad scope to ensure that PIP effectively captures the impact of long-term health conditions and disabilities in the modern world. The Rev...
Answered 11 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving InstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring learner drivers to complete accredited CPR and defibrillator awareness training as part of the process of obtaining a full driving li
Answer: Information about first aid, including CPR, is already included in the official learning materials by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Highway Code and Driving Essential Skills. Questions are then asked as part of the driver theory test...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordLivestock Industry: Seasonal WorkersHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the temporary visa concession for overseas sheep shearers on the UK agricultural sector; and if she will reconsider allowing experienced
Answer: Concessionary arrangements are exceptional, temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession operated for 16 seasons from 2011 until 2026 and closed for a final time on 30 June this year. During this time, the sector has ...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGoogle: SoftwareDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of Google’s proposed Android developer verification requirements on independent and small-scale application develope
Answer: The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the potential impact of Google’s proposed Android developer verification requirements on independent and small-scale application developers in the UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), ...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGoogle: SoftwareDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of Google’s proposed Android developer verification requirements on competition and consumer choice in the distribut
Answer: The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of Google's proposed Android developer verification requirements. The Government supports competitive digital markets that promote innovation and consumer choice. The Competition and Markets Authorit...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAdministration of Estates: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Inheritance Tax interest and council-tax liabilities incurred by estates as a result of ex
Answer: The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has invested in more...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ProbateMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Aug 2026Awaiting answerUIN 24955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of guidance to billing authorities on the exercise of discretionary powers to reduce council-tax liabilities where an estate has been
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordAdministration of Estates: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the additional financial liabilities incurred by estates as a result of exceptional delays in obtaining probate and letters of administration.
Answer: The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has invested in more...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAdministration of Estates: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of applications for (a) grants of probate, (b) letters of administration with a will and (c) letters of administration without a will took more than (i) 26, (ii) 52 and (iii) 70 weeks
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the Probate Service in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. The published timeliness measure inc...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordInheritance Tax: Unpaid TaxesTreasuryTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24952More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of charging interest on unpaid Inheritance Tax where an estate’s principal asset cannot be sold because of delays by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in issuing pro
Answer: Inheritance tax (IHT) is due by the end of the sixth month after the date of death. Late payment interest will accrue on any amounts outstanding after this date. Personal representatives can proceed to apply for probate when sufficient IHT has been paid. ...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordJodrell Bank Observatory: FinanceDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed STFC funding reductions on the long-term scientific capabilities of Jodrell Bank Observatory, including its contribu
Answer: I met with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair, Professor Michele Dougherty, in August to discuss the council’s strategic programmes and infrastructure investments, and have engaged with the UKRI Chief Executive, Sir Ian C...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: StandardsDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing strengthened service standards and automatic compensation for mobile network customers, similar to those available for
Answer: Government has made no assessment of automatic compensation for mobile network customers. Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, has statutory duties to protect the interests of telecoms consumers and has powers to set rules that communications provid...
Answered 21 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: ComplaintsDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the eight-week complaint resolution timeframe for mobile network providers.
Answer: Ofcom, as the independent regulator, has acted to make telecoms complaints faster and fairer. Following review in April 2026, Ofcom concluded consumers should not have to wait eight weeks before accessing Alternative Dispute Resolution and reduced the tim...
Answered 21 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: IranHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department provides to Iranian nationals and dual nationals visiting the UK whose permission to stay is due to expire but who are unable to return to Iran; and whether that guidance
Answer: The Home Office continues to monitor the situation in Iran and its impacts. We recognise the disruption to travel routes through the Middle East and the impact on people whose onward travel has been delayed.The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route f...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: IranHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration her Department has given to the needs of elderly Iranian nationals and dual nationals visiting the UK unable to return to Iran.
Answer: The Home Office continues to monitor the situation in Iran and its impacts. We recognise the disruption to travel routes through the Middle East and the impact on people whose onward travel has been delayed.The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route f...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: IranHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce (a) temporary visa extensions and (b) other immigration flexibility for Iranian nationals and dual nationals whose permission to stay in the UK is due to expire and who
Answer: The Home Office continues to monitor the situation in Iran and its impacts. We recognise the disruption to travel routes through the Middle East and the impact on people whose onward travel has been delayed.The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route f...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament record
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